Hard Wall Lacrosse Rebounder

ABSTRACT

The present invention is a sport training equipment apparatus developed for lacrosse players. The purpose is to act as a high density lacrosse ball re-bounder for lacrosse players to practice throwing and catching on. The core components of the invention are: The main body of the apparatus, which is made of a high density composite panel incorporating dense solid core material that forms a curved, hard surface of the wall on an incline. This playing surface of the main body will be manufactured out of fiber reinforced plastic or other high density composites in a mold. The main body will be filled with a dense core material to create a dense, heavy surface, which upon collision of a thrown ball and the wall, will transform the kinetic energy inherent in a thrown ball, into potential energy stored in the ball utilizing the elastic properties of the ball itself rather than relying on the elastic properties of the rebounding apparatus. Two main support legs will be bolted to the main body to position the main body at an appropriate height and angle for the lacrosse player to throw and catch off the playing surface. This invention is used primarily as a training device.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to a hard body lacrosse training rebound wall.

2. Background

Currently there are a number of solutions for lacrosse rebounding walls. Current solutions attempt to rebound a lacrosse ball back to the user with a high conservation of energy, meaning that the rebounded ball should return to the user with the same velocity and trajectory as the ball had on the user's initial throw to the wall, but these solutions fail to meet the needs of the industry because inherent design problems cause a large loss of energy during the rebound process. This loss of energy results in a rebounded ball that has a much lower velocity, a much lower trajectory, a much decreased range/distance of the rebounded ball and the time for the rebounded ball to return to the thrower is also greatly increased.

It would be desirable to have a rebound wall that consisted of a high density composite body that formed the playing surface which/that can be used to return a thrown lacrosse ball with minimal loss of energy, minimal loss of ball velocity, minimal loss of trajectory, and returned in a shorter amount of time by utilizing the elastic properties inherent in a lacrosse ball rather relying on the elastic properties inherent in the playing surface of the apparatus. Furthermore, it would also be desirable to have a curved playing surface so that the angle of incidence of the ball striking the playing surface creates a better return trajectory of the rebounded ball. Still further, it would be desirable to have an apparatus that stands up well to outdoor weather exposure. Therefore, there currently exists a need in the industry for a high density composite body rebound wall that can return a thrown lacrosse ball with minimal loss of energy, minimal loss of ball velocity, minimal loss of trajectory, and returned in a shorter amount of time, that has a curved playing surface for more favorable rebounded ball trajectories and that stands up well to outdoor weather exposure.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention advantageously fills the aforementioned deficiencies by providing a lacrosse training rebound wall which provides a lacrosse player an easy to handle apparatus that rebounds a lacrosse ball thrown by the user with near the same energy, velocity and trajectory as the initial ball thrown at the playing surface. This provides the user with a greatly improved performance of the returned ball in terms of velocity, time of ball return, trajectory angle, and the option of the user to substantially increase the distance between themselves and the wall. By using a hard UV resistance polyester molded composite body and legs/stand the apparatus also has improved weathering characteristics.

The present invention is a high density, hard body, curved surface, lacrosse ball re-bounder, which is made up of the following main components as seen in Drawing #001: The Main Body (Drawing #001—Part ID A). Two Legs/Stands (Drawing #001—Part ID B,C). These components are assembled to create a high density wall surface at the ideal height and angle for a lacrosse player to throw a lacrosse ball at and catch a ball rebounded from the wall. An assembled view can be seen in Drawing #001 with all components visible and labeled.

The core components of the invention are:

MAIN BODY: The main body will feature a curved surface, high density, polyester composite molded panel that forms the playing surface, featuring a hard, durable coating that is UV resistant. (Drawing #001—Part ID A)

LEGS/STAND: Two Legs/Stands will be utilized on each side, in order to support the wall at the correct height and angle for optimal use. The Legs/Stands (Drawing #001—Part ID A, B) will be made out molded fiberglass laminate. The main body will be bolted onto the support Legs/Stand using stainless steel machine bolts and nylon lock nuts.

ADDITIONAL OPTIONS: The present invention may also offer the option of a non-smooth playing surface. This version would offer variations of shapes molding into the playing surface that would cause a ball thrown at the surface to rebound at slight unknown angles with the idea of developing player reaction and reflexes. Additionally a fold away Leg/Stand system may be offered as an option along with a carrying handle to make the rebound wall portable. Larger and smaller version of this same wall would also be options.

The present invention is unique in that it is structurally different from other known wall rebounding devices or solutions. More specifically, the present invention is unique due to the presence of a high density composite main body that forms the playing surface vs fabric on spring configuration in use by current solutions. This high density playing surface reacts with the ball very differently upon impact when compared to the current solutions which utilize a fabric and spring configuration. This high density playing surface results in greatly improved performance of the rebound wall which gives the user of the rebound wall an extremely fast and long distance rebound.

In current solutions, which utilize a fabric on spring configuration, a lacrosse ball with a defined mass is thrown at the rebound wall at an initial velocity. The ball at that point possesses initial kinetic energy which is dependent upon its mass and initial velocity. When the ball strikes the fabric on spring playing surface it results in an inelastic collision. The kinetic energy that the ball initially possessed is transferred into several types of new energy including stored potential energy in the wall itself. The energy is transferred and stored in the springs and stretched fabric of the wall as well as transformed into many other forms of energy including internal energy, thermal energy, sound energy, etc. . . . . Some of the energy that is stored in the springs and fabric will be returned to the ball during recoil, but much of the initial kinetic energy that the ball possessed prior to the collision with the wall is lost in this inelastic collision. When the stretched fabric and springs return to equilibrium, they exert a force on the ball rebounding it to the person throwing the ball, but at a much reduced energy due to all the energy losses. This loss of energy is realized in the reduced kinetic energy that the rebounded ball possesses when compared to the initial kinetic energy that the ball possessed prior to the collision with the wall. Kinetic energy loss in turn leads to a much reduced velocity which in turn leads to a much reduced distance that the ball will be returned to the user. The time needed for the ball to be returned to the player is increased due to the decreased velocity as well as from the additional time the ball uses during the collision. On a fabric wall the ball strikes the surface and deforms the surface. The ball travels the distance that the playing surface ultimately deforms as it decelerates to zero velocity, then travels the same distance in the opposite direction as the fabric wall exerts a force on it causing the ball to accelerate back in the direction of the person using the wall. This entire process of the wall deforming, converting the kinetic energy of the ball into a compressed spring as potential energy then recoil back to return some of the kinetic energy to the ball takes additional time when compared to the collision in the new invention.

The present invention utilizes a hard and dense playing surface and reacts much differently with the lacrosse ball during a collision. While no collision can be considered a perfectly elastic collision, the present invention comes much closer to a perfectly elastic collision when compared to prior solutions. The hard dense playing surface does not deflect upon impact of the ball and has suitable mass to overmatch the momentum of the ball striking its surface. The initial kinetic energy that the ball thrown at the wall possesses is converted into stored potential energy in the ball itself. The playing surface capitalizes on the elasticity inherent in the lacrosse ball itself rather than depending on the wall. Nearly all of the potential energy that is stored in the ball is returned to the ball in the form of kinetic energy after the near perfect elastic collision with the wall. This method of energy transfers used by this new invention suffers far less losses of energy such as internal energy, thermal energy, sound energy that are all losses suffered by current solutions which utilize fabric on spring configuration. This much improved conservation of energy that the new invention realizes shows up in the vast improvement of the walls performance.

The initial kinetic energy that the ball possessed prior to the collision with the high density wall is greatly preserved and returned to the ball after the collision. Avoiding loss of kinetic energy in the ball when it is rebounded in turn leads to an increased velocity of the returned ball which in turn leads to an increased distance that the ball will be returned to the user, when compared to current fabric spring configurations. The time needed for the ball to be returned to the player is also decreased due to the increased velocity as well as the decreased time the ball uses during the collision. On a high density wall the ball strikes the surface and deforms the ball. The ball compresses a very short distance in a very short amount of time as it decelerates to zero velocity, then during recoil travels the same distance in the opposite direction compressed ball exerts a force back on the wall causing the ball to accelerate back in the direction of the person using the wall. This entire process of the ball deforming, converting the kinetic energy of the ball into a compressed ball as potential energy then recoil back to return most of the kinetic energy to the ball takes much time when compared to the collision of existing solutions.

The present invention is also unique because the hard body features 100% usable playing surface of the wall itself versus current solutions where much of the perimeter of the wall is frames and springs and unusable as a rebounding surface. The present invention is also unique and improved because the high density construction materials are better suited for outdoor weathering versus fabric which is prone to UV and moisture damage. Among other things, it is an object of the present invention to provide a high density lacrosse training rebound wall that does not suffer from any of the problems or deficiencies associated with prior solutions. It is still further an object of the present invention to provide the user with a rebounding wall with very little loss of energy and greatly improved performance. Furthermore, the present invention is also unique and improved because the curved playing surface that produces a rebounded ball with a more favorable rebound trajectory.

The present invention now will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, which are intended to be read in conjunction with both this summary, the detailed description and any preferred and/or particular embodiments specifically discussed or otherwise disclosed. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided by way of illustration only and so that this disclosure will be thorough, complete and will fully convey the full scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. Some variations to the components, hardware and dimensions may be made and the embodiment is meant to also encompass any such variations.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING (LACROSSE REBOUND HARDWALL—MAIN COMPONENTS)

Drawing 001 shows a mechanical drawing of the three main components of the rebounding wall assembled with all the individual components numbered in the three views; FRONT VIEW, SIDE VIEW and READ VIEW.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to be a high density lacrosse training rebound wall featuring a curved playing surface. In its most complete version, the present invention is made up of the following components;

Drawing #001—Part ID—A, Rebound Wall Main Body, which ideally has the following dimensions: 24″ width, 39″ height and a thickness of 1½″. The main body shall be a curved composite panel made up of a high density composite core made of a cast polyester and an MDF core.

Drawing #001—Part ID—B and C, Right and Left Molded Fiberglass Leg/Stand, which are molded laminated fiberglass parts and form the stand to support the main body in the playing position. The Main Body is bolted to hold it at the proper height and angle for use.

While the present invention has been described above in terms of specific embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to these disclosed embodiments. Many modifications and other embodiments of the invention will come to mind of those skilled in the art to which this invention pertains, and which are intended to be and are covered by both this disclosure and the appended claims. It is indeed intended that the scope of the invention should be determined by proper interpretation and construction the appended claims and their legal equivalents, as understood by those of skill in the art relying upon the disclosure in this specification and the attached drawings. 

My claim is:
 1. I have invented the hard wall lacrosse rebounder. This hard wall rebounders' playing surface is where the lacrosse ball to be rebounded makes contact when thrown at. The playing surface is made out of a very dense polyester based resin and has sufficient mass in order to maintain a stationary position during the interaction or collision with the lacrosse ball. The hard wall will not move position or deform during the collision, but because of the elastic properties inherent in the rubber lacrosse ball, the ball will deform upon collision. A lacrosse ball thrown at the rebound wall can be considered a projectile. It posses kinetic energy. This energy will be transformed from kinetic energy into potential or stored energy during the collision with the wall. In the case of the hard wall rebounder, the ball will deform and the kinetic energy will transform into stored energy in the ball itself. This is the inherit difference between my new invention and all rebounders prior. Prior rebounders all were made conceptually different than the hard wall rebounder. They all were using elastic materials in the rebounder itself. These prior rebounders were using springs and fabrics that would deform upon collision with the lacrosse ball and the kinetic energy would be transformed and stored as potential energy in the deformed wall itself. I believe the hard wall invention is drastically different by design, utilizing a completely different approach in energy transformations and storage and is unique and protectable under patent laws. 